DR Congo Ebola Outbreak On 'epidemiological Knife Edge': WHO
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 23, 2018 | 05:04 PM
A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has a clear "potential to expand", the WHO warned Wednesday, as it reported seven more cases of the disease.
Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2018 ) :A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has a clear "potential to expand", the WHO warned Wednesday, as it reported seven more cases of the disease.
"We are on the epidemiological knife edge," Peter Salama, in charge of emergency response at the World Health Organization (WHO), told a special meeting. "The next few weeks will really tell if this outbreak is going to expand to urban areas or if we are going to be able to keep it under control," said Salama.
The agency issued a new toll, saying there had been 58 cases since the outbreak was declared on May 8, an increase of seven over figures issued on Tuesday, of which 27 have been deaths. One of the world's most notorious diseases, Ebola is a virus-caused haemorrhagic fever that in extreme cases leads to fatal bleeding from internal organs, the mouth, eyes or ears.
The outbreak began in rural northwestern DR Congo in a remote location called Bikoro. Last Thursday, a first case was reported in Mbandaka -- a city of around 1.2 million people that lies on the Congo River, where it is a transport hub to Brazzaville and Kinshasa downstream and to Bangui, upstream.
So far, seven cases have surfaced in Mbandaka districts, WHO said. "An urban case means that it can spread quickly.
That is another challenge," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told Wednesday's special session during the agency's annual World Health Assembly.
- 'Really serious' - The proximity of the outbreak to neighbouring countries, especially through the river connection, was a major concern, he said. "They are connected, they are very close, and that is another challenge that makes the problem really serious," he said.
Salama said that another concerning factor was that five healthcare workers were among those infected. "That is a tragedy in its own right, but it also signals the potential for further amplification," he said.
At the same time, though, the top WHO officials and DRC's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Zenon Mukongo Ngay, who spoke at the event, stressed the massive efforts put in place to halt the outbreak.
Salama pointed out that in just the two weeks since the outbreak was declared, clinical care facilities have been set up, an air bridge has been established to Bikoro, emergency financing has been mobilised, protective gear and emergency medical kits have been supplied.
In addition, a vaccination campaign has begun and more than 120 staff of WHO alone have been deployed alongside numerous staff from other organisations under the leadership of the DRC government.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid
27 minutes ago -
Copper price tops $10,000 for first time in two years
47 minutes ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister held for alleged corruption
57 minutes ago -
China calls Germany spy claims 'pure fabrication'
1 hour ago -
Singapore expects 1-3 pct growth this year
1 hour ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Tech Index rises over 5 pct
1 hour ago
-
New Zealand business sector R&D expenditure hits 2.21 bln USD
1 hour ago -
3 dead after mini car falls into west Japan paddy field
1 hour ago -
Chinese shares higher at midday Friday
1 hour ago -
Myanmar plans to export 2,000 tons of coffee in 2024-25 fiscal year
1 hour ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
1 hour ago -
Pro-Palestinian US campus protests grow as police crack down
2 hours ago